If you were to read two new government reports on American aid to Afghanistan, you would come away first astounded and then utterly furious, just as I did. Ten years into the Afghan war, our government still heedlessly throws many billions of dollars at Afghan organizations that steal some of it and pass the rest off to militants who use it to kill American troops.The State Department, for example

Franz Liszt, a Hungarian gipsy, Catholic and true virtuoso open to improvisation, came to life at the fingertips of veteran pianist Paik Kun-woo in Seoul on Sunday evening. The 64-year-old’s program on Sunday was the first part of the “Paik Kun-woo, and Liszt” recital celebrating the 200th year of the composer’s birth, covering almost all of Liszt’s pieces in two concert programs at the Seoul Arts

‘Festival O! Gwangju’ and ‘Daegu International Musical Festival’ present local and international performancesGwangju Metropolitan City and Daegu Metropolitan City are each holding a festival showcasing performances ranging from percussion acts and dance to plays and musicals this summer. “Festival O! Gwangju,” hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan City and Gwangju Cultural Foundation, kicks off on June 2

Director Kim Ki-duk’s controversial cinematic self-portrait “Arirang” has officially been invited to Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, an annual film fest held in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.The movie, an emotionally raw cinematic account written, directed, and starring Kim, featuring his own perceived failings and traumatic experiences, will be shown in KV IFF’s non-competitive section “

It has been only 10 days since Korean pop stars attracted 14,000 European fans in two K-pop concerts in Paris. On Sunday, more than 800 European fans gathered in front of Abbey Road Studios in London to catch a glimpse of Korean boyband SHINee.The five-member group performed at Abbey Road Studios in a closed reception where local media and European music industry experts were invited, SM Entertain

SACRAMENTO, California ― Let’s listen as the Moore family ― grandmother, daughter-in-law and granddaughter ― talks about their lives together in the Carmichael, California, home they share.“I enjoy my granddaughter immensely,” said Cheryll Moore, 55, an American River College teacher whose son Sean brought 10-year-old Mya Honsvick into the family picture when he married Mya’s mother, Beth.“We’ll b

Korean actor-singer Ryu Si-won won an auto racing event in China over the weekend, his racing team here said Monday.Ryu finished first at the Ferrari Challenge Race in Zhuhai, a southern Chinese city, EXR Team 106 said.Korean actor and racing driver Ryu Si-won (center) poses after winning the Ferrari Challenge Race in Zhuhai, China, Sunday. (Team 106)The local importer of Ferrari, Forza Motors Kor

Will he stay or will he go? A recent transfer rumor tips Korean international Park Ji-sung to leave Manchester United to join a Spanish La Liga club.The reigning Premier League champion is undergoing a makeover in a bid to rebuild its squad this summer. Despite claiming a record 19th league title this season, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed his disappointment after losing to F

South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun tied for third at the U.S. Open golf championship, which ended Sunday just outside Washington.At the year’s second major tournament held at the Congressional Country Club, Yang finished at 6-under, 10 strokes behind the champion Rory McIlroy. Yang began the day in second place, eight behind McIlroy, but shot an even-par round of 71 to drop into a three-way tie for third

In this June 10, 2011 photo, entertainer Debbie Reynolds poses between dresses worn by actress Marilyn Monroe in the films "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," left, and "River of No Return," right, at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Calif. Pieces in Reynolds' extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia will be put up for auction at the Paley Center. AP-Yonhap NewsLOS ANGELES (AFP) – The leg

India's oldest inmate Brij Bihari Pandey was released at 108.LUCKNOW, India (AFP) - Prison authorities in India have released the country's oldest inmate, 108-year-old Brij Bihari Pandey, who was convicted of a murder he committed at the age of 84, officials said Saturday.Pandey, a Hindu priest, was freed on Friday by a court in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on humanitarian grounds as prison

SEOUL, June 20 (Yonhap) -- An alleged North Korean police document reported a case of cannibalism, a South Korean missionary group said Monday, a development, if confirmed, that could support what has long been rumored in the North.There have been accounts among some defectors of eating human flesh amid chronic food shortages that culminated in a massive famine in the late 1990s that was estimated

Thousands of people gathered at Merrion Square, Dublin, Sunday, dressed like the famous character from “Where’s Waldo” to break a Guinness World Record. (Daily Mail)Participants wore white and red striped T-shirts and matching hats --Waldo’s signature costume -- for the event organized by the Street Performance World Championships.The organizers came up with the weird and fun way to break the reco